ONGC MoEFCC holds meeting with 6 states to review ESA demarcation progess in Western Ghats [ Current Affairs ]

(July 7, 2015)

Prakash Javadekar who is Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC) held a meeting with 6 states in New Delhi to review the progress of demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) along the Western Ghats region.

The crucial MoEFCC meeting was chaired by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and was attained by environment Ministers of six States viz. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

No final decision was taken in this meeting as it will be taken by end of August 2015. Provide adequate opportunities for livelihood security to the local people in the broad paradigm of ESA. Main focus on this meeting, to set policy guidelines to conserve the biodiversity of the Western Ghats region.

Earlier, MoEFCC on the request of these six States had allowed them to the demarcation of ESA within their jurisdiction by physical verification in the Western Ghats region. States were asked to submit their proposals to the Ministry by 30 June 2015.

In 2010, Kasturirangan committee had recommended that about 37 per cent areas in the Western Ghats to be declared as an ESA, surpassing the recommendation of Madhav Gadgil report. Madhav Gadgil report had recommended declaration of entire Western Ghats region as an ESA.

In 2013, Kasturirangan Committee recommended to decide the further course of action made by states to physically demarcate ESA. At present, Kerala is only state which had undertaken such an exercise and submitted its report.